Toll rates, carpool-only times increasing on Metro HOT lanes

Increased traffic has led to additional costs and reduced hours of availability for solo drivers on five toll lanes around Houston.

Metropolitan Transit Authority officials announced Monday that the toll for the five carpool-toll lanes it manages will go up at least $2, starting Jan. 6. The price hike is expected to reduce use, enabling cars in the lanes to travel faster. Metro opened the lanes to solo drivers for a price, but with the stipulation that speeds in the lane average 55 mph.

“The lanes are first and foremost HOV lanes and we don’t want to compromise the benefit of the HOV system for those who ride the bus, vanpool or carpool,” said Tom Lambert, Metro’s interim CEO.

The new changes are:

U.S. 290, Interstate 45, and U.S. 59 will open to carpool-only traffic 30 minutes earlier, at 6:30 a.m., until 8 a.m.

U.S. 290 carpoolers must have three occupants in the vehicle 15 minutes earlier, starting at 6:30 a.m.

Between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., tolls on southbound I-45 and southbound U.S. 59 will increase $2 to $6.50.

Between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., tolls on northbound I-45 and U.S. 290 will increase $2 to $7.

Between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., tolls on northbound U.S. 59 will increase $2.25 to $4.50.

Metro spokesman Jerome Gray said the need to improve traffic flow at critical driving times between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. led to the changes. Often, toll-paying traffic would flood into the lane along the freeways just before the 7 a.m. prohibition, leading to slower speeds.